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Funds established today at the Scranton Area Foundation will provide an essential stream of income decades ahead to meet the needs of our changing community.

If you are interested in philanthropic endeavors which will influence the well-being of our community, then contact us to learn how we can help.

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We are here to help you achieve your current and long term philanthropic goals. Whether you want to make a one-time gift or start a fund to promote a legacy, we offer options for giving now and giving later.

Where to Start

Whether you want to make a one-time gift, establish a fund, or defer your gifts through a will or other planned giving, we can help you find the best way to meet you charitable goals and enhance the quality of life for all the people in Lackawanna County!

Resources

Four-year renewable college scholarship awards for students graduating from high schools in Lackawanna County have been made possible through the James F. Swift Scholarship Fund administered by the Scranton Area Foundation. The Foundation announces that 71 scholarships are currently active, including 53 renewed awards and 18 new awards just approved by the Foundation. The total amount of the scholarship grants to date is $1,572,000.00, and the 128 students who received them have graduated from high schools throughout Lackawanna County.

The James F. Swift Scholarship Fund was created by Mr. Swift through a gift to the Scranton Area Foundation in 2002 to provide support for higher education of young people in Lackawanna County. The Foundation gratefully received an unanticipated and significant gift from the estate of James Swift following his death several years ago. With the addition of this generous bequest to the scholarship fund, a greater number of Lackawanna County students have been able to pursue their academic and professional goals through higher education. In future years, the scholarship will provide an ongoing stream of matriculation at Lackawanna County colleges and universities. The Foundation’s goal is to award 75% of the scholarships to students who plan to attend institutions of higher learning in our area.

Scranton Area Foundation President & CEO Laura Ducceschi praised the generosity of James Swift, noting “he has left a permanent and enduring legacy for the young people of our region. His scholarship fund will make higher education more attainable for generations of students.”

The Scranton Area Foundation is a partner with Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) in their Partnership for Access to Higher Education (PATH) Program to offer qualifying students additional financial aid. Through PHEAA, these scholarship recipients may be eligible for additional dollars towards their tuition.

For more information on the Scranton Area Foundation and the James F. Swift Scholarship Fund, please contact: Laura Ducceschi, President & CEO of the Scranton Area Foundation, at 570-347-6203.